I went to play in south Arlington, VA last night, at a Hispanic cafe' that I have had coffee and tea at before, next to a Goodwill that I frequent. I got there at c. 6:20 PM for a 7:30 PM show start time, and I expected to find just a few diners there. Instead, I find the host of the event, and his entourage, setting up!! I find him and say I was there to play, and he put me on the list--12th!! I thought I would be 1 or 2. Then, I stay a little for the show, but one performer in, I get itchy feet; I want to travel and move around (I abhor staying in one place at once too long sometimes). I was 12th because the list was filled up with people who signed up online previously from the Songwriters Association of Washington (SAW). But I got the "urge to going", as (1) I wanted to do some things at home, including housecleaning, and (2) I REALLY wanted to be rested for getting up early the next morning to run for an hour, something I skipped last Wednesday. So, I left. But it made me think: Performing CAN be a hassle sometimes, especially when circumstances do not work out (the thing that really got me itchy feet last night was that they were taking forever setting up the 2nd act). MY songs are kind of "bare bones " (most of them): just chords and lyrics, nothing fancy; I do not have the mental capacity to remember the 2400+ songs I have written)., so I would take, maybe, 5 minutes. THEY took 5 minutes setting up the 2nd act!! Come on, dude! So, I am going to wait a little and try to scout out playing opportunites and, if I pick one, see about signing up to play early on the day in question, ahead of time if possible. But I will keep at it. As those who know me know, one of my mantras when doing something difficult (that keeps me going), is: Ronda wouldn't quit. So I do not want to, either. I'll just take a book to the gig, next time.